Derek Fisher (third from left) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots and makes the winning shot over San Antonio's Manu Ginobili in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals on May 13 at the SBC Center in San Antonio, Texas.

When you slog along at 8-9 and face three stout road games upcoming, you know there are complications on your team.

That’s not what Rick Carlisle wants. He likes being drama-free. All coaches do. But they also know that, during the NBA marathon, things happen. Players come, players go. Some get miffed about lack of playing time, others don’t step up when they get it.

So as the Mavericks churn toward the one-quarter mark of the NBA season, here’s a quick laundry list of what they have on their plate — knowing full well that Dirk Nowitzki probably gets back on the court this week but still isn’t expected to play a game until at least mid-December.

Acquiring Derek Fisher isn’t going to cause anybody in San Antonio to rest the starters the game before the Spurs play the Mavericks.

But he helps. He’s a calming influence. As Elton Brand said, there’s nothing Fisher hasn’t seen before. He can make life easier for everybody else on the floor and it’s a lock that he’ll make some critical 3-point shots before he’s done this season.

What’s important for the Mavericks is that Darren Collison approach this situation the right way. Early indications are that he will, although he’s unhappy that he’s no longer the starting point guard.

Who wouldn’t be? It would be disturbing if Collison wasn’t a little miffed.

But the bottom line is that, in the 14 games Collison started, he had a positive plus-minus in only four of those outings.

On Saturday, he came off the bench, played well and had eight assists.

“I have mixed emotions,” Collison said. “As hard as I worked over the off-season, I’m disappointed by the whole situation, how the whole situation went down. But I just want us to win.”

Asked if he thought he got a fair chance to prove what he could do as a starter, Collison said: “I don’t think so. But it’s not my decision. Regardless of how I feel about the situation, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I can thrive in any situation as long as I’m playing basketball and I’m trying to help us win the game, I can be effective.”

It’s a big season for Collison, who is trying to prove he can be a starter for a good team in the NBA. His response to this situation will be watched closely by the Mavericks and everybody else in the league.

Brand has started to perk up lately, and it should come as no surprise.

The wily veteran has had a great career making the 16-foot jumper, rebounding and playing solid defense. He did all of that against Detroit on Saturday when he had 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.

“That was a vintage game for him,” Carlisle said. “For whatever reason, his shotmaking has been up and down. He had blocks and rebounds in traffic. He was hitting shots and making passes. Elton’s effort was enormous.”

To that, Brand said: “Nah, that’s not vintage. That’s what I can do. I can help us. Just getting out there, getting an opportunity, I feel like I can help.”

With Troy Murphy gone, Brand, Chris Kaman and Shawn Marion are going to have to work overtime to pick up the minutes until Nowitzki is ready.

And smaller front-court players like Jae Crowder and Vince Carter will get chances, too.

What about Roddy Beaubois?

He didn’t play in three of the last five games, and he was on the inactive list against Detroit.

With Fisher and Collison running the point now, it appears minutes will be non-existant at that position for Beaubois and Dominique Jones.

O.J. Mayo will eat up the majority of the shooting-guard minutes. So until further notice, consider Beaubois and Jones to be on notice that they have to “stay ready” as Carlisle would say.

But don’t expect to see much of them in games unless there are extenuating circumstances.

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